University of Pennsylvania-led medical experiments harmed incarcerated womenPrism’s Tamar Sarai reports on the long-lasting and little-known medical experiments carried out on incarcerated women starting in the 1950s and running through the early '70s. The experiments, led by the late dermatologist Dr. Albert Kligman and the University of Pennsylvania, caused permanent damage and harm to former test subjects. Prisoners at Philadelphia's now closed Holmesburg Prison were test subjects for cosmetic and pharmaceutical products, including perfumes, shampoos, and baby products, as well as mind-altering psychedelic drugs.
Sarai’s reporting highlights the fact that many of these incarcerated women who were the test participants are largely excluded from discussions about what’s wrong with the prison system. She interviewed a formerly incarcerated test subject, Dorothy Alston, who explained the enduring pain and suffering from participating in the "diet food" and "tampon" tests when she was in her late 20s or early 30s. Alston says she suffered irreversible damage to her reproductive organs.
Tap or bottled? Advocates, dentists combat distrust of tap waterBesides paying for their water bill, North Minneapolis residents spend between $40 and $50 a month on bottled water, says Verna Steward, who is one of over 60 tap water ambassadors working with the City of Minneapolis' initiative to educate residents about the safety and benefits of drinking tap water. Sahan Journal reports the program, which started in 2022, was designed so individuals like Steward could build trust about consuming tap water within their communities. “My organization felt that it was somewhat needed in the North Side community, because I know a lot of people that receive food stamps, and I noticed that they buy a lot of bottled water because they don’t really trust the tap water,” says Steward.
Much of this distrust is steeped in communities of color and immigrants living in north Minneapolis who say they prefer bottled water because the water in their native countries was unsafe, and because of the old pipes in their homes.
More: Is tap water safe to drink? Here’s what you need to know. (Sahan Journal)
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How to live in NYC with a disabilityEpicenter-NYC contributor Samantha Zachar discusses the self-isolation and chronic pain she has experienced in New York City this past year as a result of her new, invisible disability. Zachar's chronic pain has limited her ability to do things she used to enjoy, like walking long distances and exploring different parks in NYC. She writes, "Over the past year, I have dealt with a range of emotional, physical, and logistical obstacles that I never experienced before. My limited mobility and generally painful physical existence have been extremely disheartening."
More: 🎧 Listen to Epicenter-NYC's latest podcast episode, where Zachar interviews disabled New Yorkers about their experiences with the city’s public transit system →
Plus: New law expedites Medicaid reimbursement for student health services in Calif. schools (Black Voice News)
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Highlighting the innovators transforming health outcomes in our communities
Collette Adamsen (Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa) is the director of the National Resource Center on Native American Aging at the Center for Rural Health at the University of North Dakota. Adamsen recently spoke with Native News Online about the possibilities of the Native Urban Elder Needs Assessment Survey for Native tribes and organizations